Dakota State University-SecureSD Secure Email Solution

Dakota State University is conducting a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Secure Email Solution targeting cities, counties, and municipalities across South Dakota through the SecureSD cybersecurity initiative. The procurement seeks to establish a pool of qualified contractors to provide a unified, scalable email solution, specifically targeting Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud (GCC) with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 security capabilities. Key objectives include enhancing cybersecurity communication infrastructure, replacing multiple public email platforms, and creating a standardized, secure email system for local government entities such as law enforcement, auditors, treasurers, finance officers, municipal utilities, and elected officials. The RFP requires vendors to demonstrate technical capabilities, cybersecurity certifications, implementation resources, and past performance. Critical dates include a proposal due date of July 11, 2025, an anticipated award date of August 1, 2025, and a contract period running through April 30, 2028. Vendors must submit inquiries to Mike Waldner at mike.waldner@dsu.edu with the subject line "RFP # DSU-25003-SecureSD" by the specified deadline, with all inquiries and responses to be posted on the state's e-procurement system.

The RFP does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The procurement appears open to qualified vendors capable of providing the required secure email solution. While no incumbent vendors are identified, the solution must integrate with existing Microsoft 365 Government infrastructure and provide capabilities for global address listings, calendaring, and internal encrypted communication. The total contract value is not explicitly stated, but vendors are required to provide comprehensive pricing structures including one-time implementation costs, monthly per-entity and per-user licensing, Microsoft 365 Government G3 licenses, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, and ongoing monitoring and management support. Participation is voluntary, so the exact number of participating entities is unknown, which introduces variability in potential contract value. Initial contract funding will be provided by the state, with participating entities potentially responsible for costs beyond the initial contract period after April 30, 2028.